What's the recipe for Christmas blues? That's the question we're diving in today on Ask Science Mike Minnie.

It's Christmas week and so we're answering a Christmas question every day because you've left so many questions under my inbox tree.

Let's get it started. Today's question comes from a patron on Patreon who says Christmas lands very near the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. While Christmas is

associated with high energy, excitement, and good feelings, a lack of light is

often associated in the social sciences with depression and a lack of energy.

It seems logical for humans to fight this seasonal blues off with large connected gatherings,

gifts, and good meals. My question for you is to what degree does

light affect our mood and energy versus to what degree does this family and

spirit-charged holiday affect our mood and energy.

Is it a psychological battle in the midst of a strong environmental stimuli?

Bonus, for those of us who have suffered losses associated with this time of year, is it a particularly

cruel time to have such an emotionally charged day?

Questions from a deconstructed psych nurse.

Thanks for all you do.

As a Utahin, I can't wait to run into you at Sundance.

Oh, I do hope we do run into each other at Sundance.

It's a ton of fun every year just to come to any of the

Wind Rider Forum functions and you should find me nearby. Always a highlight of the year of Sundance for me. So yes Christmas lands near the darkest time of the year in the

northern hemisphere near the winter solstice when the days are shortest

when the sun is lowest compared to the horizon.

That does affect human mood.

seasonal effective disorder is a real thing.

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